Network News — March 17, 2022

Network News - March 17, 2022

Announcements

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Save the date! National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships to be held in person September 13–15, 2022 in Minneapolis, MN.

Immunize.org and Voices for Vaccines are co-sponsoring the 2022 National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships, which is being planned as an in-person meeting in Minneapolis/St. Paul at the Radisson Blu Mall of America on September 13–15, 2022. Registration information will be available soon. Back to top

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Unity releases toolkits for parents and healthcare providers in preparation for Adolescent Immunization Action Week on April 4–8

Unity Consortium (Unity) released toolkits for parents and healthcare providers in support of the first annual national Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW) from April 4–8. Unity launched this initiative to bring attention to the importance of adolescent immunization and to urge healthcare providers and parents to get adolescents up to date on recommended vaccines.

Visit Unity’s AIAW campaign page for social media-ready materials and graphics you can use to communicate and draw attention to the importance of taking action now to improve adolescent immunization coverage. Be sure to include the hashtag #AIAW22 in your posts. Action ideas for AIAW to remind, recall, and schedule immunizations include:

Using electronic health records to identify patients with missed immunizations and contact them to schedule appointments
Communicating with families about missed well visits and staying up to date on vaccines
Making vaccination scheduling convenient for parents
Checking vaccination status during all adolescent visits to avoid missed opportunities
Making confident, presumptive vaccine recommendations, and share credible sources on vaccine safety and efficacy
Sharing the AIAW call to action with local organizations such as health departments and schools so they too can spread the word

Together we can help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent immunization rates and prevent future outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. You can find the toolkits at https://www.unity4teenvax.org/partner-toolkits (password: unity). Back to top

Iowa Immunizes partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on their “Path to a Bright Future” HPV vaccination campaign and encourages other coalitions to join the call to action

Iowa Immunizes has partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on the Path to a Bright Future campaign, an urgent call to action to spread awareness of HPV vaccination and its effectiveness at preventing HPV-related cancers. The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital HPV Cancer Prevention Program and campaign partners aim to dramatically improve on-time HPV vaccination rates by everyone’s 13th birthday to reduce the threat of HPV cancers later in life. In addition to improving the awareness of the benefits of vaccination to parents, the broader public, and healthcare practitioners, the campaign aims to:

Increase awareness and implementation of evidence-based interventions in community settings
Improve implementation of best practices in clinical settings
Raise awareness of relevant policies and support vaccination advocacy efforts

You or your organization can fill out the call to action form to join the campaign. Related Link

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: HPV Cancer Prevention Program web page

Indiana Immunization Coalition is a partner of the International HPV Awareness Campaign with the theme #OneLessWorry

The Indiana Immunization Coalition (IIC) is a partner of the International HPV Awareness Campaign that focuses on spreading the word about the HPV vaccine and the prevention of HPV-related cancers. International HPV Awareness Day was March 4 and this year's theme was "One Less Worry." Leading up to the day, IIC shared videos and graphics on their social media channels to raise awareness about the importance of HPV prevention.

It's still important to spread awareness about HPV prevention. Project HPV-Free has created a free and easy-to-use mini-toolkit focused on raising awareness on college campuses. If you have any college students or faculty members in your life who may be interested, please pass on this great resource. You can also raise awareness with campaign resources in 10 languages, and by including #onelessworry in your social media posts. Back to top

Montgomery County Immunization Coalition launches phase two of their digital video campaign, aimed at parents of children age 5–11, to dispel the most common myths about COVID-19 vaccines

The Montgomery County Immunization Coalition (MCIC) launched the second phase of their "COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Video Campaign" to debunk the most common myths about COVID-19 vaccines for children age 5–11. The campaign can be found on streaming video channels such as Hulu and Roku. The three ads will run from February through May.

Related Links

MCIC YouTube: COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Video Campaign 2 playlist
IZ Coalitions News: MCIC's Phase 2 of their Let's Get Back to Us bus campaign information

Five statewide immunization coalitions join together to promote the safety and efficacy of vaccines and raise awareness of the patriotism of vaccinating through their #WeThePeopleVax social media campaigns

In recognition of President’s Day on February 21, the We The People Vax team developed an animated graphic and messages to use on social media using the hashtag #WeThePeopleVax, to recognize our founding Presidents and our history of promoting vaccination as a means of preventing disease, disability, and death. We the People Vax is a group of statewide immunization coalitions from across the nation that have joined together to promote vaccines’ efficacy and safety by raising awareness of the patriotism of vaccinating. Five immunization coalitions—Indiana Immunization Coalition (IIC), The Arizona Immunization Partnership (TAPI), Wisconsin Immunization Neighborhood (WIN), California Immunization Coalition (CIC), and Texas Immunization Partnership (TIP)—joined together in this effort.

For major national holidays, the team develops sample social media messages and graphic(s) that can easily be customized and shared on social media channels.  Messages encourage the public and advocates to remember how vaccines help us be free to do the things we love, and how protecting our community from diseases is how we protect our nation. Upcoming campaigns include:

Mother's Day
Father's Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day

You can find recent and future campaign materials at https://wethepeoplevax.org. If you are interested in partnering on the development of these campaigns, the team would love to add your coalition to the project. To learn more, contact Sara Dillard of the Indiana Immunization Coalition at sarad@vaccinateindiana.org. Back to top

Immunize Kansas Coalition hosted a successful virtual Educational Legislation Reception in February

The Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) held their annual Educational Legislative Reception titled "Former Anti-Vax Mom and Esteemed Medical Expert Share Their Perspectives on Immunizations." The virtual event brought in 45 attendees. During the event, Kansas legislators, IKC members, and featured speakers joined in a discussion on the importance of immunizations in their Kansas communities. Heather Simpson, an influential former anti-vax mom, shared her compelling story of how her outlook on immunizations changed when it came to protecting her daughter. Dr. Kevin Ault, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kansas, School of Medicine, and member of ACIP, talked about the ACIP, how vaccines are approved, and the importance of routine immunizations.

Tracy Russel, Executive Director at Nurture KC, shared results from their new statewide immunization poll, that demonstrated strong public support for immunizations and the current childhood immunization policy. IKC had 9 legislators attend the virtual event, and encouraged them to engage in conversation, highlighting how routine immunizations protect communities and individuals from vaccine-preventable diseases. Back to top

Voices for Vaccines releases podcast with Tara Smith, PhD, titled “Your Vaccine Refusing Family”

Voices for Vaccines (VFV) has posted a new entry in its Vax Talk podcast series: Your Vaccine Refusing Family featuring Tara Smith, PhD. She discusses having crucial conversations with family members who do not trust scientific vaccine information. Before the interview, Dr. Nathan Boonstra and Karen Ernst discussed COVID-19 vaccination for children less than age 5 years. Voices for Vaccines is a national organization of parents and others dedicated to raising the level of the voices of immunization supporters. VFV invites everyone who values vaccines to become a member, use VFV tools in their own community, and get involved with VFV. Related Links

Voices for Vaccines Tools main page
Voices for Vaccines podcast page

Today, March 17! CANVax hosts webinar titled “Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence before, during, and after Pregnancy.”

The Canadian Vaccination Evidence Resource and Exchange Centre (CANVax) will host a webinar titled Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence before, during, and after Pregnancy from 3:30–4:30 p.m. (ET), today, March 17. The webinar aims to inform healthcare providers on vaccine hesitancy and strategies to build vaccine confidence in people who are pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant. A question and answer period will take place following the webinar. Learning objectives include:

Discuss the challenges to vaccine confidence for individuals and families who are pregnant, considering pregnancy or lactating
Identify strategies for building vaccine confidence among pregnant families, new parents, and those who intend to become pregnant

The webinar will be recorded and made available on the CANVax website. Register for the webinar. Back to top

The Indiana Immunization Coalition hosts webinar “Understanding and Responding Effectively to Vaccine Hesitance” on April 5

The Indiana Immunization Coalition will hold a webinar titled Understanding and Responding Effectively to Vaccine Hesitancy from 3:00–4:00 p.m. (ET) on April 5. The webinar will focus on communicating effectively with vaccine hesitant individuals. The presenter is Tara Haelle, a freelance science journalist who specializes in writing about vaccines, infectious disease, maternal and pediatric health, public health, disparities, misinformation, and medical research broadly. CME, CNE, and Pharmacy Continuing Education will be offered upon completion of the webinar. Register for the webinar. Back to top

Registration open for “27th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference” on April 5; CE available

The Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC) will host its 27th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference from 8:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m. (ET) on April 5. This year's conference theme, "2022: Trials, Transitions, & Triumphs," recognizes the difficulties encountered vaccinating adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledges the adaptations adult vaccine providers have made, and celebrates all that has been accomplished since the pandemic's early days. The overall goal is to educate healthcare professionals on current best practices for adult immunizations. The 2022 conference offers an opportunity to receive the most updated information on routine adult immunization from leading experts in the field, and network with immunization experts and colleagues. The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. There is a $75 fee to attend. View the agenda here. Register for the event. Back to top

Immunize Arkansas hosts in-person/virtual 2022 HPV Summit on May 6 in Little Rock, AR; CE available

Immunize Arkansas will host its 2022 HPV Summit from 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (CT) on May 6 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event will also be available to attend virtually. The summit will educate medical and dental providers on the connection between HPV and cancer, provide the tools to talk to patients about the benefits of the HPV vaccine, and share best practices about ways to increase HPV immunization rates. The summit has been approved for six hours of continuing education (CE) for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, and dental professionals. There is a fee to attend and an option to audit for a reduced cost for those who don't need CE. Register for the summit. Back to top

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

March is Women’s History Month; Immunize.org celebrates the many contributions of women in vaccinology

March is Women's History Month and Immunize.org would like to recognize the contributions of women to vaccinology since its earliest days. In recent decades, many women have made major contributions to vaccine science and vaccination programs globally. You may be unfamiliar with some of these early trailblazers in the history of vaccinology 50 or more years ago, including:

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduced smallpox inoculation into Western medicine in 1721
Anna Wessels Williams isolated the reference strain of diphtheria used to develop the first diphtheria antitoxin and later a diphtheria toxoid in the 1890s. She developed a quick test to diagnose rabies in 1902.
Margaret Pittman recognized in 1931 that type b of Haemophilus influenzae was a major cause of disease
Ida A. Bengtson developed the complement fixation test in the 1920s, which was used to standardize units of biological activity for botulinum, gas gangrene, and other antitoxins
Pearl L. Kendrick and Grace Elderling researched pertussis in the 1940s, tested their vaccine first on themselves, and ran a successful clinical trial, resulting in the first vaccine against pertussis. Loney Clinton Gordon aided their efforts.
Dorothy Horstmann showed that poliovirus reaches the brain through the blood in the 1940s
Clara I. Nigg codeveloped botulinum toxoids in 1947
Isabel M. Morgan and her team were the first to prove that inactivated viruses could produce immunity in the 1940s; her work led the development of Salk's polio vaccine in 1955
Brigitte Alice Askonas's work on antibodies and T-cells in the 1950s informed research to improve vaccines
Margaret G. Smith isolated cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 1956
Ruth L. Kirshstein helped develop and refine tests to assure the safety of viral vaccines for such diseases as polio, measles, and rubella in the 1950s–1970s

The contributions of all of the women who work tirelessly around the world to advance vaccine science, policy, and program implementation are deeply appreciated. Related Links

womenshistorymonth.gov website
Gavi: The Women Who Made Modern Vaccines Work (3/8/18)

Today, March 17! NFID holds webinar “Updates from recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings.”

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) will hold a webinar titled Updates from Recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Meetings from 1:00–2:00 p.m. (ET), today, March 17. William Schaffner, MD, NFID Medical Director, and Jessica MacNeil, MPH, ACIP Deputy Executive Secretary, CDC, will discuss the latest updates from recent 2022 ACIP meetings including current U.S. vaccination recommendations for children, adolescents, and adults. Learning objectives include:

Describe current ACIP recommendations for childhood/adolescent and adult immunization
Explain the rationale for and impact of recent changes to vaccine recommendations

There is no fee to participate in this activity, but pre-registration is required. Register for the webinar. Back to top

Today, March 17! Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership hosts first session of "2022 Viral Hepatitis Policy and Advocacy Summit."

The Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership will hold the first of four sessions in the "2022 Viral Hepatitis Policy and Advocacy Summit" titled Health Equity and Hepatitis at 3:00 p.m. (ET), today, March 17. This session will feature a discussion on the intersection of stigma, racism, and access to viral hepatitis services from a community and federal perspective. Register for part one: Health Equity and Hepatitis. Additional upcoming conversations in the four-part series include:

Hepatitis and Maternal/Child Health – March 24
Overdose and Hepatitis – week of March 28
Federal Leadership and Congressional Advocacy – week of April 4

GSK hosts “Vaccine Virtual Days 2022” event on March 30 and 31

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK) will host Vaccine Virtual Days 2022 on March 30–31. This 2-day event is designed to provide education and exchange of knowledge on relevant topics around vaccination. An independent scientific committee, including Immunize.org’s Dr. L.J Tan, has selected speakers who are leading vaccinology experts from around the world. The program will be offered live and on-demand, including a panel discussion and Q&A. There is no fee to attend. View the agenda here. Register for the event. Back to top

PA-AAP Medical Home Program hosts parts two and three of its three-part webinar series on provider communications with adolescents

The PA-AAP Medical Home Program will host parts two and three of its three-part webinar series titled "Strategies to Improve Provider Communications with Adolescent Patients: Relationships and Rights." This webinar series will include teen speakers providing perspectives on their experiences and recommendations for healthcare professionals. Learning objectives include:

Describe concerns, preferences, and realities of young people in healthcare settings
Value diversity among teens and recognize the challenges and opportunities this poses in healthcare settings
Explain ways to provide high-quality, youth-friendly healthcare services
Develop confidence and skills to build positive relationships and communicate effectively with teens

The webinar dates are as follows:

Participants may be eligible for CME/CEU. Back to top

Resources

AIM releases handouts on how faith leaders and community-based organizations can support the COVID-19 vaccination effort

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) released two new handouts on how faith and community-based organizations can support the COVID-19 vaccination effort. As trusted leaders in the community, faith-based leaders and community-based organizations are uniquely positioned to aid in overcoming vaccine hesitancy. The handouts include tips on building vaccine confidence, improving vaccine access, and partnering with immunization programs or healthcare institutions to offer vaccine clinics. Spanish versions are coming soon. The handouts include:

For questions or feedback, contact info@immunizationmanagers.org. Back to top

**Vaccinate Your Family releases their 2022 State of the ImmUnion report on vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States**

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) released their sixth annual State of the ImmUnion report which has been sent to members of Congress. The report presents the ongoing challenges the nation faces in its immunization program, and the policies that can help remedy the barriers to timely immunizations. The public health community has gone above and beyond in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing successful vaccine rollout programs and awareness campaigns, while mitigating the threat of the virus through sound public health practices. While the COVID-19 pandemic is at the forefront in our nation’s minds, we have all continued to educate the public about the importance of routine vaccinations and advocate for access to immunizations for all vaccine-preventable diseases.

VYF thanks you for your tireless support and looks forward to working with you to advance the policies and efforts laid out in the report. You can help get the word out by sharing VYF's Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter posts, along with using the hashtag #StateoftheImmUnion. VYF is happy to support you and your organization if you seek to develop a statewide companion report to send along to your legislators. For more information, please contact Jaimie Vickery, manager of State and Federal Vaccine Policy, at jaimie@vaccinateyourfamily.org. Back to top

**AIM and HPV Roundtable release International HPV Awareness Day Social Media Toolkit in English and Spanish**

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and the HPV Roundtable have released their International HPV Awareness Day Social Media Toolkit that they used to promote awareness on International HPV Awareness Day. This kit includes graphics, a social media toolkit, and an HPV Awareness Video.

The video features Dr. Nicole Baldwin and Kimberly Williams. Dr. Baldwin has a special message for healthcare providers, and Kimberly is a cervical cancer survivor with a message for parents. Please consider sharing this video on your own social media channels to promote HPV awareness every day! Back to top

CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center releases a new HPV-related infographic for the public

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center (VEC) released Human Papillomavirus, an infographic for the public.

The infographic lives on VEC's Look at Each Vaccine: Human Papillomavirus web page. VEC also has dozens of questions from the public that are addressed by Paul Offit, MD, on its Questions and Answers about HPV and the Vaccine web page. View and share these resources with your channels! Back to top

AAP releases pediatric COVID-19 vaccine campaign toolkit

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) created a toolkit to encourage COVID-19 vaccination of children, adolescents, and young adults. The toolkit offers ways to help reassure parents and caregivers about the COVID-19 vaccine. It includes videos, social media posts, articles, and printable resources. Find these attractive resources on AAP's COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit main page.

Related Link

AAP: COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit main page

Explore the updated www.Give2MenACWY.org website to increase coverage for the MenACWY booster and other adolescent vaccinations

Immunize.org's www.Give2MenACWY.org website promotes the importance of adolescent vaccination, including administering the recommended booster dose of MenACWY vaccine at age 16. Many teens are behind on vaccines because of the pandemic, so adolescent vaccination is more important than ever. Original materials on this colorful website for healthcare professionals have been updated to incorporate the 2020 ACIP meningococcal vaccine recommendations and the most recent vaccine coverage statistics from CDC’s National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS–Teen). One particularly popular resource on the site is the updated Algorithm for MenACWY Immunization in Adolescents 11–18 Years of Age.

The website is divided into five easy-to-access sections:

Vaccinate Teens – Teen vaccination schedules and tips for improving adolescent vaccination rates
Give 2 Doses – Tools to help improve second dose coverage of MenACWY vaccine
16-Year-Old Visit – Resources to help providers and patients remember the important vaccines recommended for 16-year-olds
Tools for Providers – Tools to explain meningococcal ACWY vaccine recommendations and improve coverage for all adolescent vaccines
Resources – Links to print materials, organizations involved in adolescent vaccination, personal stories about the importance of vaccination, and additional resources of interest

The site also categorizes materials according to whether they are primarily of interest to providers, to adolescents, or to parents. Visit Give2MenACWY.org and enjoy browsing (and deploying) its bountiful resources. Related Links

Coalitions in the News

These recent articles feature coalition activities and other stories of interest to coalitions

Medpage Today: Public Health Experts Pitch Their Own Path to the ‘Next’ Normal (3/8/22)
Wellsboro Gazette: Partnership Using Grant to Raise Awareness of Immunization (3/3/22)
Devex: How to Increase Vaccine Uptake? Don’t “Demonize” Vaccine Hesitancy (3/3/22)
Bucks County Herald: Bucks Immunization Coalition among Recipients of Immunization Access and Education Grants (3/3/22)
Health Affairs: Priorities and Policy Levers to Support School-Located Vaccination (3/2/22)
Medical Express: Respiratory Infections like Whooping Cough and Flu Have Plummeted amid COVID. But ‘Bounce Back’ Is a Worry (3/1/22)
NBC: Pfizer Shots Protect Kids from Severe COVID Even in Omicron, CDC Study Finds (3/1/22)
NWI Times: Coalition Schedules Immunization Clinics at Merrillville Schools (2/27/22)

Announcements

Visit Immunize.org IZ Coalitions Network calendar of events for immunization coalitions!

The Immunizations Coalitions Network maintains a Calendar of Events on its website, immunizationcoalitions.org. This is an easy way to find out about upcoming national, regional, state, and local conferences, workshops, and virtual educational opportunities. If you have a vaccination-related event that you would like your colleagues to know about via this Calendar of Events, email info@immunizationcoalitions.org. Back to top

Stay up to date by subscribing to IZ Express (formerly IAC Express), encourage your coalition’s members to subscribe to Immunize.org's IZ Coalitions Network News, and please make sure your coalition’s information is up to date on immunizationcoalitions.org, the website of the National Network of Immunization Coalitions

Be sure you’re subscribed to IZ Express! IZ Express is the free weekly e-newsletter produced by Immunize.org. IZ Express keeps you informed about new and updated vaccine recommendations from CDC and new vaccine licensures by the FDA. You’ll read about newly posted Vaccine Information Statements and their translations, and new immunization education materials from Immunize.org, CDC, AAP, and others. It also provides updates on online and in-person educational opportunities, many offering free continuing education credit. To subscribe, simply provide your name and email address at www.immunize.org/subscribe. We will never share your contact information. Urge your coalition members to sign up for IZ Coalitions Network News! IZ Coalitions Network News is a monthly e-newsletter for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions that features news of interest to immunization coalitions and nonprofit organizations, including advocacy opportunities, legislative efforts, immunization resources, educational offerings, and local, state, and national conference information. IZ Coalitions Network News is available to coalition members and nonprofit staff, and all people who work with immunization coalitions. To subscribe, send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org asking to be included. The National Network of Immunization Coalitions is a project of Immunize.org. Make sure your coalition is listed and your information is up to date on immunizationcoalitions.org The National Network for Immunization Coalitions website at www.immunizationcoalitions.org is a place to learn about immunization coalitions and nonprofit organizations, their locations, missions, activities, newsletters, and how to engage with them. The website promotes the activities of immunization coalitions and nonprofits, offers resources of importance to the network, and provides a searchable online database of local, state, regional, and national immunization coalitions. Interested supporters of immunization can find contacts, resources, ideas, and volunteer opportunities. There are now 140 immunization coalitions and nonprofits listed on this website; view their pages here. If your coalition is not listed, or your information needs to be updated, please email info@immunizationcoalitions.org. New coalitions and nonprofits are encouraged to include their information on the National Network for Immunization Coalitions website. Updated information can be added at any time by emailing info@immunizationcoalitions.org. Back to top

Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH Editor-in-Chief Litjen (L.J) Tan, MS, PhD Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer Lisa Jacques-Carroll, MA Coalitions Network Project Manager Taryn Chapman, MS Contributing Editor Marian Deegan, JD Contributing Editor Julie R. Murphy, MA Director of Development Robin VanOss Technical Reviewer

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services. The Coalition also facilitates communication about the safety, efficacy, and use of vaccines within the broad immunization community of patients, parents, health care organizations, and government health agencies. Click here for more information on IAC.

Network News — March 17, 2022